Blessed are the Poor in Spirit: Ch. XIV - The Faith vs. Works Conundrum

Now, the journey has come full circle.
It began with the goal of discovering what the Bible says about being "Mugged by Reality" and in turn, the Bible "Mugged" me with Faith.
I didn't really discover what the Bible says about being "Mugged by Reality" but did find that I was following in the footsteps the Pharisees, of whom Jesus was no fan of.
As a result I fully realized how sinful I was and how abhorrent to the almighty God I am. But these moments of judgment were then washed away by the outreach of His hand telling me to get up and begin anew.

Begin what?
Am I to sell all my belongings, go to a Third World country and feed the poor?
Who knows, maybe that will be in the future, but I'm not going to jump to rash conclusions right now. It's only been three weeks since I completed the journey I am writing about here.
I believe in what St. Paul wrote about what Christians being parts of the body of Christ: each called upon to play a different part, whatever best fits the part (1 Corinthians 12: 12-31).
I'm only 24 years old. I studied film in college only to find I'm not really cut out for Hollywood.
I believe that I'm in period of transition. I believe my purpose in life will eventually be made clear to me, even if it's nothing more than being a loving husband and father.

But what about "Mugged by Reality"? What about certain necessary actions for the sake of a higher principle?

I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge... (John 12: 47-48)

Cool. Along with this and the very fact that Jesus often broke the law by healing on the Sabbath shows that it's OK for a higher principle to be the judge of actions instead of a strict law. After all, is that not why Jesus died, so that we can be forgiven for the unavoidable sinfulness of our life?

But what about:

Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers - none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6: 9-10)

Can the Bible make up it's mind!
Is the Christian life one of grace or one of Legalistic rules.
A friend of mine is fond of reminding me that Jesus established few rules, which were more like ideals of behaviors rather than realistic expectations (did Jesus really want us to cut off our hands?).
St. Paul, on the other hand, sets up many rules, including telling slaves to obey their masters and not letting women speak in Church.

This is where the Holy Spirit comes in.
The Holy Spirit is the third person of God we experience in our own lives as a spiritual force via the grace of Jesus Christ.
Once we are truly saved, truly understand why we need grace to be justified in God's eyes, we then experience the very way of God for ourselves.

The Holy Spirit acts as a cipher for confusing situations: when we don't know what to do, we merely apply the situation to the very experience of salvation we had when we were on our knees before God lamenting our sins.

With that in mind, I realize the context of St. Paul's above quote: Corinth had a bad reputation as a sleazy go-to spot for retired people. It was the Vegas of its day.
Notice St. Paul's deliberate words: all negative connotations. He didn't condemn toasting a wine at a family get together, but drunkards. He also grouped drunkards along with a plethora of evil acts.
It's clear that St. Paul was not setting up legalistic rules but explaining how a depraved life-style is opposite to a Christian life style.

Still, why then does a Christian require a life style if nothing we can do can prove ourselves in the eyes of God, who sent His only Son to die for us so that we have a chance?

Once again, I turn to the Holy Spirit to educate me on this.

As I mentioned earlier in this blog, I heeded C.S. Lewis' advice to be charitable and of service to other people regardless of my feelings or of what they deserve.
This very action, the most purely Christian of actions, can not be done unless the charitable person quells his worldy ways, swallows his pride and puts himself on the same level of the person in need of charity.
Charity simply does not happen unless the charitable person is humbling himself (the one exception is if he's doing it to please an audience); just like how the sun can't shine unless it's day time.

What I found when I did this is that it is strangely enjoyable!
It sounds so corny, so "Sunday School", but it feels good to be nice to people even when they deserve it.
I'll tell you what, often times when I'm charitable to nasty or odd people, the often improve instantly and become very warm and friendly people when I serve them.
I find that this has an awesome trickle effect: I immediately think less of myself; I want to help others more. I also want to sin less. The urge is still there, but I find myself less of a slave to these urges before. They attract me less and less as things of Christian nature outshine their drawing power.
Sinful urges I've struggled with my entire life are suddenly quite manageable. Oh, I still sin. Don't think I make any pretense to be perfect! But it's less painful to resist.

What I have found is that neither Jesus nor St. Paul expects legalistic lifestyles from us.
What they are saying is that one must practice the Christian life style to be a Christian, just as a doctor practices medicine to be a doctor.
How does this work?
Practicing Christian acts of charity is like exercising a muscle: you want to have a good body, you got to keep doing it. It makes you look good; it makes you feel good; it makes it easier for you to lift heavy objects and do harder work. The same principle applies to a Christian life.

Accepting Jesus as your savior and then living the life of a depraved person is a lot like wanting to be thin and trim, but all you do all day long is sit on your but and shovel in the food.
But exercising is hard!
Of course it is! But I'll tell you something that all physical exercisers know: the more you do it, the more it becomes routine and less of a burden.

Now, I exercise daily.
I also enjoy ice ream, cookies and beer.
But it's balanced out by healthy meals and not breaking the "three meals a day" rule.
So far, this balance has me in good shape.
Can I be better? Of course. But that doesn't mean I'm bad either.

I think the same goes for the Christian life: it's not important to be a Mr. Universe of Charity, but if some habit is preventing you from doing one push-up without passing out, it has to go.
It's different for each person: one bad habit that can be crippling to one person is harmless to another.

The final step of this journey will be the appreciation of this principle: what defiles and what can be done about it.